Maricopa County’s 2-Page Ballot Sparks Controversy as Issues Emerge

In a challenging start to early voting, Maricopa County, Arizona, is grappling with delays and concerns associated with its unusually long ballot. This ballot, which has not been seen for nearly twenty years, spans two sheets of paper due to an average of 79 contests, raising questions about the county’s preparedness.

Officials anticipated potential issues but have begun to experience them nonetheless. Mail ballot deliveries faced minor delays, prompting the need for overnight workers to assist in the process. Voters have reported long lines and technical difficulties, including paper jams at polling places. The county’s approach to tracking the two pages of each ballot has also come under scrutiny, with fears that these issues could lead to post-election legal challenges.

In early October, the U.S. Postal Service received approximately 1.9 million ballots to distribute to Maricopa County voters. The added weight of these heavier envelopes has slowed delivery, with fewer ballots handled in each batch, though USPS officials have clarified that delays generally did not exceed one day. Yet some voters expressed frustration, with a notable increase in calls to the Election Protection hotline reporting issues with ballot receipt.

As ballots are returned, further delays arose due to the verification process. Workers are taking additional time to process each return, leading the county to supplement its election staff with workers from outside the elections department. Training for a new overnight shift started recently to enhance efficiency at tabulation centers.

Despite plans made in spring to accommodate a longer ballot, unanticipated challenges have emerged. The county has increased the number of vote centers from an initial plan of 230 to 246 in response to rising concerns. However, Republican officials have criticized these efforts, indicating that the long ballot could lead to significantly longer wait times, potentially disenfranchising voters unable to endure lengthy lines.

In correspondence to the Board of Supervisors, GOP congressional candidate Abe Hamadeh and a representative for the Republican National Committee requested an emergency meeting to discuss these challenges and suggested additional voting resources. Deputy County Attorney Joseph La Rue responded, pointing out the proactive measures already taken regarding voting infrastructure and dismissing claims from the GOP as unfounded.

Amid these logistical challenges, concerns over how ballots are counted have also arisen. Some voters have returned only one page of the two-page ballot, leading to confusion about the tracking process. Elections Director Scott Jarrett reassured the public that voters are not obligated to return both pages while noting steps in place to ensure the counting process remains accurate and transparent.

As the election progresses, county officials maintain that they have anticipated many of the challenges posed by the increased volume of ballot materials. The situation highlights ongoing complexities in election administration, particularly as jurisdictions adapt to evolving voter participation dynamics.